On Tuesday I embedded a book trailer for Emma Donoghue's Room here on Book Chase because one look at it inspired me to add the book to my TBR stack. It is, in my opinion, that good, and that effective, a book trailer. It achieves everything it set out to do.
Today I am embedding a movie trailer for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, a film that is scheduled for release in December 2011. I have not yet read any of the Stieg Larsson books (although I'm sure I'll get around to them eventually), so I know absolutely nothing about the book's plot. Maybe that's why this movie trailer does nothing for me. It makes The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo look exactly like about two dozen other movies I've seen over the years.
I'm curious, though. I know that many of you have read the three books in this series already, and that some of you love them. If you are one of those...does this trailer excite you? Is this a "do not miss" movie? Is this a movie trailer aimed exclusively at book readers?
I've read the first two books in the series. I liked them... didn't love them like a lot of readers. I figured out a huge part of the "mystery" very early on so that took away some of my enjoyment.
ReplyDeleteI did see the original Swedish version (with subtitles) and, even though it was 2½ hours, there was so much left out (some rather important subplots, IMO). I was glad that I had read the novel. I'm on the fence as to if I'll see the American version.
Lisbeth Salander is a very interesting character. She, definitely, makes the books what they are. They're worth reading but, again IMO, they are not the "earth shaking" literature some readers and critics have made them out to be. Read them when you get around to it but don't "bump" other books on your TBR pile for them.
Hi Sam. I read all three of the books (two of them twice because I forgot what went on before) and enjoyed all three books. Kathy is right--they aren't earth-shattering literature, but enjoyable mysteries.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the differences between your trailers though, I agree with you--I wouldn't be interested in the movie at all. What is it with American movies and their editing? Who wants to look at flashing glimpses of what amounts to photographs. Does that really make us want to see a movie? I wouldn't have known Lisbeth Salander if I saw her in those flashes of the movie. But, of course, I've hated movie editors and directors for years because they continue to spin the camera around and flash things at me either making me sick or not allowing me the time to see the expression on an actor's face so I can figure out what the actor is thinking.
Rather the trailer about Room was like a small story. You definitely want to know more about Room. The Dragon books hinge on being drawn to Lisbeth Salander and I admit I liked her brassy attitude and her sense of justice. She's kind of like Terminator with a feminine side and no gun. She has more imagination in her retributions. And, she has plenty of reasons for her retributions as explained in the books. When you get around to reading them, I hope you enjoy them.
I battled through the first book and have no desire to read the other two. That trailer was awful.
ReplyDeleteI read the first book and was entertained enough. He is really not a great writer, but the story was well paced and kept my attention. I tried to read the second and after about 80 pages was bored out of my skull, so I put it down. I really don't get all the hullabaloo, but I am always for any book that gets non-readers reading!
ReplyDeleteI've read all three books and liked them. I usually don't like to watch movies of the books I've read because the movies never do the book justice. I would maybe make an exception for this one because Daniel Craig is in it. I don't like that they cast him in the role, though, because I didn't much care for the guy in the book and I certainly didn't see him as attractive.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice, Kathy. The books were some of the most hyped that I remember in recent years...wonder if the author's death had a lot to do with the demand for the books, making it an interesting "story" and all about his tragic rise to stardom after death, etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm not all that anxious to experience them for myself but I'm sure I'll read at least the first one at some point.
Maxine, I totally agree with you about the differences between the two trailers...and why one works so well while the other one fails so spectacularly. The movie trailer failed to tell me anything about the plot of the movie...looks like one big chase sequence to me, and I'm bored with that kind of movie. Thanks for your opinion on the books, too.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I agree about the trailer. I think it seemed even worse because I watched it within just a few hours of the one for "Room," making them contrast even more. Sounds like the actual books did nothing at all for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Page etc., for your thoughts on the books. I've found no one who just out and out "loved" them...lots of lukewarm and mediocre response, though. All PR and no substance?
ReplyDeleteInteresting reaction, Factotum. I hate it when an actor doesn't work for me in a literary role. That usually doesn't ruin my feelings about the book, but it does make it very difficult for me to enjoy the movie version.
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